Calendar mechanism



NOV. 18, p GREKQV 2,860,435

CALENDAR MECHANISM Filed April 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FM 49'- 1 Alan? Nov. 18, 1958 P. GREKOV CALENDAR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1957 W A R. m M

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United States Patent 2,860,435 CALENDAR MECHANISM Paul Grekov, New City, N. Y.

Application April 8, 1957, Serial No. 651,470

Claims. (Cl. 40-114) 10 The present application refers to calendar mechanisms and more specifically to a calendar mechanism adapted to indicate perpetually dates and months.

It is a main object of this invention to provide a calendar mechanism which continuously indicates consecutive dates within consecutive months, indicating also the consecutive months and automatically adjusting the date indication on account of the variation of the number of days within the particular month.

It is another object of this invention to provide a calendar mechanism of the type set forth in which the dates and months are correctly indicated over period of four years so that also the bissextile day is taken into consideration.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a calendar mechanism of the type set forth in which the number of operating elements is reduced to a minimum.

With the above objects in view a calendar mechanism according to this invention comprises a rotatable date element and a rotatable month element, the latter having consecutive operating elements arranged along a circular line thereon and each being located in an equal segment of said circular line, the consecutive operating elements respectively corresponding to consecutive months of the year and differing from each other by their respective operative shape depending upon the number of days in the corresponding months; the mechanism further includes first actuating means operated by rotation of the rotatable date element and moving after each revolution thereof the month element through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating elements of the month element; second actuating means controlled by the consecutive operating elements of the month element so as to turn in a month having less than 31 days the date element depending upon said operative shape of the respective operatingelement through an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3 or 4 days; and third actuating means for turning said date element once each. day through 1 of a full turn.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are'set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mehod of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial diagrammatic front view of the main parts of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary front view showingdetails of one part of the mechanism;

2,860,435 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 Fig. 1B is a perspective view of another part of the mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a mechanism as shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of one portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of another portion of the same mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one type of indicator rPnears used in connection with the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional side view of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of components of the first embodiment, shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1-5, a calendar mechanism according to the invention may be supported by a base A on which suitable drive means, not shown, may be mounted so as to produce an oscillating movement producing one operative stroke in one direction every day. As illustrated diagrammatically by Fig. 3 such a drive may be accomplished by a drive shaft 28 rotating at a speed of one revolution per day and carrying a cam 27. This cam operates a lever or plate 26 pivoting in a bearing B so that the lever 26 oscillates once a day between the two positions shown in full and in dotted lines respectively.

A stationary axle 10 is supported by bearing members, not shown, on the base A and carries the various rotatable elements of the mechanism.

A date element, in this example consisting of a ratchet wheel 11 having 31 teeth 21 is rotatably supported on axle 10. An actuating means acting like a pawl and consisting of a suitably shaped bar 24 is slidably mounted in the base A so as to rest with one end on the lever 26 so that it will be moved periodically with the oscillating movement of lever 26. A return spring 25 urges the bar 24 towards the lever 26. The opposite end of the bar 24 engages during its upward stroke the ratchet teeth 21 of the date element 11 in such a manner that with every revolution of the drive shaft 28, i. e. once a day, the date element 11 is advanced an angular step corresponding to one tooth and therefore corresponding to one day.

A month element 13 connected to a hub 15 is also rotatably supported on axle 10 alongside the date element 11. The month element in the present example comprises a wheel 13 of circular shape having a series of consecutive operating elements arranged along a circular line. More specifically, the month wheel 13 is provided along its circular contour with segmental portions 16, 17, 18, 19 each representing one month. In the present ex ample the circumference of the month wheel 13 corresponds to a consecutive period of four years so that the total circumferenceisdivided into 48 segments. Those segments which represent month's having 31 days are parts of the actual circumference, all the other segments representingmonths having .less. than 31 days are re-- cessed from the circumference to varying'depths depending upon whether the difference between the number of days of the particular months and 31 is 1, 2 or 3 days As shown in Fig. lAa period of one year would start with a segment 16' followed by a recess 19" corresponding to a February of 28 days followed by alternating full size segments and'recessed segments17 representing the months from March to November and ending with afull size segment 16 of ,doublewidth representing December that the month wheel may contain segments for any number of years although the use of an arrangement for four years appears to be most practical. If the month wheel were provided only with segments corresponding to one year then in a leap year an adjustment of the date wheel would have to be carried out by hand.

The month element 13 is permanently connected with a ratchet wheel 14 attached to the same hub 15 and-having a number of teeth equalto the number of segmental portions provided along the circumference of the month wheel 13. The ratchet wheel 14 serves to advance the month wheel 13 oneangular step each month.

For accomplishing this stepwise movement of the month wheel 13 actuating means are provided between the date wheel 11 and the ratchet wheel 14. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a drive member 31, 32 is supported on the base A and consists of a resilient rod 31 extending in substantially radial direction towards the center of the date wheel 11 and having attached to it a pawl-like element 32 adapted to engage the teeth 20 of the ratchet wheel 14 as shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 3 and 4 should be considered as if Fig. 4 were superimposed over Fig. 3. Therefore the members 31, 32 are shown in both figures.

Attached to the date wheel 11 is a second drive member consisting mainly of a pin mounted on a bracket 29 extending radially from the hub of the date wheel 11. During the rotation of the date wheel 11 the pin 30 7 travels on a circular path C into which the free end of the member 31 projects. Therefore, once a month the pin 30 will engage the member 31 and bend it into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 after which the pin 30 releases the member 31 permitting it to swing back into its idle position. During the movement of the mem-' ber 31 into the position shown in dotted lines the pawllike member 32 has been moved into engagement with the ratchet teeth 20 as shown in Fig. 4 so that by this movement the ratchet wheel 14 and thereby the month wheel 13 is advanced a step corresponding to one tooth of the wheel 14 or, in other words, one segment of the month wheel 13.

At the end of every month having less than 31 days the date wheel 11 must be advanced an angular step corresponding to 2, 3 or 4 days.. For this purpose the following elements are provided. On one side of the date wheel 11 a notch 33 is arranged so as to serve as means for engagement by suitable actuating means for advancing the date wheel 11 angularlyindependently of the operation of the oscillating bar 24 and the ratchet wheel teeth 21. For cooperation with the notch 33 a rocker lever is provided which is supported for oscillating movement between two end positions by bearing means 34 shown only diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The rocker lever 35 has two main arms 35' and 36. Besides, it has an extension 35" which projects into the operative path of the free end of the oscillating bar 24. Therefore, whenever the bar 24 is moved upward to advance the date wheel by one tooth, the rocker member 35 by engagement of the extension 35" with the bar- 24 is' turned about its bearing hole 34' a certain amount. In most of the positions of the date wheel 11 the curved and sharpened end 35' of the first arm of the rocker member 35 slides inefiectively along'the flank of the datement of the date wheel ll. at the end of a month may correspond to 2, 3 or 4 days. The amount of advance.-

ment depends upon the magnitude of the rocking move ber 35 is reduced to practically nil.

ment of the member 35. One end position at the completion of one such rocking movement is always the same because it is controlled by the stroke of the bar 24. The

opposite or starting end position varies with the number of days of each particular month and is controlled by the engagement of the arm 36 of the rocker member 35 with individual segmental portions 16, 17, 18, or 19 of the month wheel 13.

The rocker member 35 is urged by spring means not shown into an end position in which one edge of the arm as rests against the segmental portions of the month wheel 13. In those months which have 31 days the arm 36 will rest against the non-recessed circumferential'portions like 16 or 16 representing months with 31 days. If the member 35 is in an end position determined by the last mentioned engagement with the month wheel 13, then the bar 24 in its upward stroke will barely touch the extension 35" so that the rocking movement of the mem- However, the arrangement could as well be such that in this case the engagement of the extension 35 is in line with the engagement edge of the particular tooth 21 of the date wheel so that the tip 35 engaging simultaneously the notch 33 would have no other efiect on the day wheel than the simultaneous engagement of the bar 24 with the particular tooth 21 so that at the end of a 31-day month the date wheel will be advanced only one tooth for changing to the position corresponding to the first day of the next month.

If however, the month wheel has assumed a position in which one of the recessed segmental portions like 17, 18 or 19 is opposite the arm 36, then the starting position of the member 35 is accordingly modified so that when the bar 24 engages the extension 35" the tip 35' is in a position to engage the notch 33 at an earlier date than in the previous case. It is now evident that depending upon the depth of the recessed segment of the month wheel 13 representing a particular month, the date wheel will be advanced at the end of that month by the rocker member 35 an angular step corresponding to 2, 3 or 4 days as the case may be.

In certain cases it may be desirable to add to the calcudar mechanism a second date element 12 also supported on axle 10 for rotation jointly but independently with the date wheel 11 by an extension 24 of the bar 24, or prefer ably by a' bar 24'of correspondingly greater width. The second date wheel 12 may be used for indicating the names of days of the week. The second date wheel is separate from the date wheel 11 because when the mechanism is started at a certain date the wheel 12 must be set for the particular week day falling on the particular date.

In order to hold the two ratchet wheels 11 and 14 in an achieved position after every advancement, resilient hold- 7 ing members 22 and 23, respectively are arranged on the base A so as to resiliently engage the intervals between the individual ratchet teeth 21 and 20, respectively.

When the mechanism is to be started at a certain date, the date wheel 11 and, if provided, the day wheel 12 can be set easily for the particular date and day either manually directly, or by manual operation of the bar 24 or the lever 26. For setting the month wheel 13 for the particular month separate means for doing this may be provided as shown in Fig. 4. A member 40 is arranged in the base A for reciprocating movement by manual operation and comprises a bar 44) adapted to engage the teeth 20 of the ratchet wheel 14 and a member 40" adapted to lift the extension 35 and thereby to move the arm 36 of the rocker member 35 out of engagement with any one of the recessed portions 17, 18 or 19 of the month wheel.

sired position. a v

The indicating means for the mechanism as described preferably consists of annular members 37, 38, 39 as V In this manner by reciprocating the member 40 the month wheel 13 can be advanced to any de shown in. Fig. 5;. each ofthese annularindicator members carries a series of indications, as for; instance the days of the week, the names of the months and figures representing the date within a month. Each of the indicator elements 37, 38, 39, respectively, is attached to the corresponding day, month, or date element, respectively for rotation therewith. With an arrangement as shown by Fig. 5 the reading of the indications is to be done from a direction transverse tothe axle 10.

In certain cases it may be desirable to arrange the calendar mechanism according to this invention in a man ner that it is a comparatively flat structure mounted on a support plate A and in such a manner that the indications can be read in axial direction with respect to the stationary axle as'shown' in Fig. 6. While a reading in axialdirection could also be provided for in a modified version of'the structure shown in Fig. 5 by giving the annular members 37, 38, 39 different diameters and indicating' surfaces. extending perpendicular to the axle 10, the desired resultis more conveniently achieved by the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

In this case the month wheel 13' with its ratchet wheel 14' is connected with a hub 15' extending substantially to the outer end of an axle 10' fixed to the plate A. The date wheel 11 is arranged telescoping over the extended portion of the hub15' so as to be rotatable around this hub. Now indicating means like dials or pointers 38' and 39 may be attached to the outer end of the hub 15' of the month wheel 13 and to the outer end of the hub 11" of the date wheel'll'.

The mechanism'according to this invention is suitable for various applications; for instance as a mechanical calendar proper, or as a part of a watch or clock. Also the indicator means may be fashioned ascontact means for mechanically or electricaly operating other devices calling for some operation or actuation depending upon a particular date as for instance a punch clock for marking dates on cards or the like.

It willtbe understood that each of the elements described above, or, two or more. together, may also find a useful application in other types of calendar mechanism differing from .the types described. above.

While'the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in calendar mechanism for perpetual date indication, it is not intended to. be limited to the details shown,,since various modifications, and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended'tobe comprehended within the meaning and range .of. equivalence of the'following claims.

What is claimed as new 'and'desired to be secured by Letters, Patent is:

1. A. calendar. mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotatable date element; a rotatable circular month element having. consecutive segmental operating portions along its fcircumferencesaid consecutive operating portions respectively corresponding to consecutive months of theyear and those, portions representing months of less than '31 days differing from those representingother months by being recessed from. said circumference a varying amountcorrespondingto the difference between 31 daysand the number of days of the respective month; first actuating means operated by rotation of said rotatable date element and moving after each revolution of said dateelement said. rotatable month element through an angular-step correspondingto the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element ;.1 second actuating means controlled by said consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element so as to turn in a month having less than 31 days said rotatable date rlement depending upon the depth of the respective recessed operating portion through an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3 or 4 days; and third actuating means for turning said rotatable date element once each day through of a full turn.

2. A calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, including movable means engaging said month element for setting said month element to any desired selective position with respect to the rest of the mechanism so that the whole mechanism may be set to a selected starting position in accordance with the starting date.

3. A calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, including movable means engaging said date element for setting said date element to any desired relative position with respect to the rest of the mechanism so that the whole mechanism may be set to a selected starting position in accordance with the starting date.

4. A calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said date element and said month element each comprise a hub and indicator means of annular shape, each of said hubs being rotarily supported by a common stationary axle and being connected to said indicator means of annular shape for indicating the date and month, respectively.

5. A calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said date element and said month element each comprise a hub and indicator means extending in planes parallel with said elements, the first of said hubs rotarily supporting the second hub telescoping over said first hub and said first hub being rotarily supported by a stationary axle, said hubs being connected each to one of said indicator means for indicating the date and month, respectively, for observation in axle direction of said axle.

6. A calendar mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotatable date element; a rotatable circular month element having consecutive se -mental operating portions along its circumference, said consecutive operating portions respectively corresponding to consecutive months of the year and those portions representing months of less than 31 days di rating from those representing other months by being recessed from said circumf rence a varying amount corresponding to the difference between 31 days and the number of days of the respective month;

first actuating means including a first drive member movable between an idle position and a position of en gagement with said month element for advancing the latter with every movement into said position of engagement through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element, and including a second drive member connected with said date element for moving after each revolution thereof said first drive member from its idle position into said position of engagement; second actuating means controlled by said consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element so as to turn in a month having less than 31 days said rotatable date element depending upon the depth of the respective recessed operating portion through an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3 or 4 days; and third actuating means for turning said rotatable date element once each day through of a full turn.

7. A- calendar mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotatable dat element provided with advancing means for being turned in angular steps of equal amount; a rotatable circular month element having consecutive segmental operating portions along its circumference, said consecutive operating portions respectively corresponding to consecutive months of the year and those portions representing months of less than 31 days differing from those representing other months by being recessed from said circumference a varying amount corresponding to the difference between 31 days and the number of days of the respective month, said rotatable month element being provided with engagement means for being advanced in angular steps; first actuating means including a first drive member movable between an idle position and a position of engagement with said engagement means of said month element for advancing the latter with every movement into said position of engagement through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element, and including a second drive member connected with said date element for moving after each revolution thereof said first drive member from its idle position into said position of engagement; second actuating means controlled by said consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element so as to turn in a month having less than 31 days said rotatable date ele- V ment depending upon the depth or" the respective recessed operating portion through an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3 or 4 days; and third actuating means operating oscillatingly for turning said rotatable date element by engagement with said advancing means once each day through of a full turn.

8. A calendar mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotatable date element provided with advancing means for being turned in angular steps of equal amount and with one separate advancing element for being turned independently of the operation of said advancing means in angular steps equal to a multiple of said equal amount; a rotatable circular month element having consecutive segmental operating portions along its circumference, said consecutive operating portions respectively corresponding to consecutive months of the year and those portions representing months of less than 31 days differing from those representing other months by being recessed from said circumference a varying amount corresponding to the difference between 31 days and the number of days of the respective month; first actuating means operated by rotation of said rotatable date element and moving after each revolution of said date element said rotatable month element through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element; second actuating means including a rocker member arranged to be angularly oscillated between end positions in synchronism with said angular steps of said rotatable date element and having one first operative portion for engaging in one end position of its angular oscillation said segmental operating portions of said month element and having a second operative portion for engaging in substantially the same end position said separate advancing element of said date element for advancing the latter during the movement towards the opposite end position an angular step depending upon the angular interval between said end positions, said angular interval being determined by the depth of the particular recessed segmental operating portion of said month wheel engaged by said first operative portion of said rocker member in its first end portion at the beginning of the particular angular oscillation, whereby said date element is advanced once in a month having less than 31 days an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3, or 4 days; and third actuating means operating oscillatingly for turning said rotatable date element by engagement with said advancing means once each day through ,6, of a full turn. 7

9. A calendar mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotatable date element provided with advancing means for being turned in angular steps of equal amount and with one separate advancing element for being turned independently of the operation or" said advancing means in angular steps equal to a multiple of said equal amount; a rotatable circular month element having consecutive segmental operating portions along its circumference, said consecutive operating portions respectively corre sponding to consecutive months of the year and those portions representing months of less than 31 days difiering from those representing other months bybeing recessed from said circumference a varying amount corresponding to the difference between 31 days and the number of days of the respective month, said rotatable month element being provided with engagement means for being advanced in angular steps; first actuating means including a first drive member movable between an idle position and a position of engagement with said engagement means of said month element for advancing the latter with every movement into said position of'engagement through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said rotatable month element, and including a second drive member connected with said date element for moving after each revolution thereof said first drive member from its idle position into said position of engagement; second actuating means including a rocker member having two operative arms and being arranged to be angularly oscillated between end positions in synchronism with said angular steps of said rotatable date element and having one first operative portion on one arm thereof for engaging in one end position of its angular oscillation said segmental operating portions of said month element and having a second operative portion on the other arm for engaging in substantially the same end position said separate advancing element of said date element for advancing the latter during the movement towards the opposite end position an angular step depending upon the angular interval between said end positions, said angular interval being determined by the depth of the particular recessed segmental. operating portion of said month wheel engaged by said first operative portion of said rocker member in its first end position at the beginning of the particular angular oscillation, whereby said date element is advanced once in a month having less than 31 days an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3, or 4 days; and third actuating means operating oscillatingly for turning said rotatable date element by engagement'with said advancing means once each day through 5 of a full turn and for oscillating said rocker member.

10. A calendar mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotatable date wheel provided with ratchet teeth for being turned in angular steps of equal amount and with one separate notch for being turned independently of,

the operation of saidiratchet teeth in angular steps equal to 'a multiple of said equal amount; a rotatable circular month wheel having consecutive segmental operating portions along its circumference, 'said consecutive operating portions respectively corresponding to consecutive months of the year and those portions representing months of less than 31 days dilfering from those representing other months by being recessed from said circumference a varying amount corresponding to the difference between 31 days and the number of days of the respective months, the total of said segmental operating portions representing a period of four years and including one portion recessed to correspond to a difference ofifour days, said rotatable month wheel being provided with a ratchet wheel for being advanced in angular steps of ,4 of a full turn; a pawl member including a first drive member movable between an idle position and a position of engagement with said ratchet wheel of said month wheel for advancing the latter with every movement'into said position of engagement by engagement of said pawl member with said ratchet wheel through an angular step corresponding to the distance between two consecutive operating portions on said month wheel, said pawl member further including a second drive member mounted on said date wheel for engaging after each revolution thereof said pawl member and for moving said first drive member from its idle position into said position of engagement; a rocker member having two operative arms and being arranged for being angularly oscillated between end positions in synchronism withsaid angular steps of said rotatable date wheel and having a first operating arm for engaging in ppe end position of its'angular oscillation said segmental operating portions of said month element and having a second operating arm for engaging in substantially the same end position said separate notch of said date element for advancing the latter during the movement towards the opposite end position an angular step depending upon the angular interval between said end positions, said angular interval being determined by the depth of the particular recessed segmental operating portion of said month Wheel engaged by said first operative portion of said rocker member in its first end position at the beginning of the particular angular oscillation, whereby said date element is advanced once in a month having less than 31 days an angular step equal to and representing 2, 3, or 4 days; and oscillating drive means engaging said ratchet teeth of said date wheel and said 15 10 second arm of said rocker member for turning said rotatable date wheel once each day through of a full turn and for oscillating said rocker arm in synchronism therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,181 Ballantyne Mar. 28, 1905 10 2,257,947 Goldthwait Oct. 7, 1941 2,719,372 Wolfgang Oct. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 265,779 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1927 

